Remembering Home - Pilgrimage to IONA 2027

Remembering Home: An Embodied Pilgrimage to IONA

Aug. 27—Sept, 6, 2027

Spend 5 days on Iona + explore other Scottish destinations

IONA, Loch Lomond, Kilmartin Glen, Glasgow & Rosslyn Chapel

Join us next year as we journey to the Island of Iona and other sacred places. Remembering Home: An Embodied Pilgrimage to IONA will take place August 27 through Sept. 6, 2027. The heart of the pilgrimage will be 5 days on the Isle of Iona—widely recognized as a "thin place" and revered as a sacred site by pilgrims from around the world. Additional stops include Loch Lomond, Kilmartin Glen, Glasgow and Rosslyn Chapel. The pilgrimage will be led by CSW Director Rob Field as well as Jen Whalen and Julie Schanno, both veteran travelers to Iona. On this journey, we will explore a variety of spiritual traditions layered and very much alive in the places we're visiting. There is a distinct weaving of Celtic Christian wisdom streams and Earth-based animism, alongside the direct, embodied experience available to us presently. There will be plenty of space for listening, creative expression, connection, discovery and delight!

ITINERARY

• The pilgrimage begins in Glasgow, Scotland on August 27.
• From Glasgow, we travel by private bus to Loch Lomond for an experiential retreat and relaxing visit to this famed lake, renowned for its natural beauty.
• On August 29, we begin our journey to Iona by private coach, with an overnight on the west coast.
• The magic of Iona awaits us on August 30, our first of five days and nights on the island. There, we make a deep exploration of spiritual traditions and practices old and new, aided by the wild and rugged landscape of this sacred place.
• We depart Iona on September 4 and enjoy a scenic and integrative journey to the village of Haddington along the famed West Highland Way.
• In Haddington, we spend time sharing our experiences of Iona and exploring the area.
• On Sept. 5, we make a special journey to the village of Roslin. In that idyllic location, we'll take in the mystery of Rosslyn Chapel, where layers of Christian and pre-Christian traditions are held in unity.
• Departure comes too soon on Sept. 6, as we board shuttles for our flights home, unless pilgrims choose to extend their stay.

This is an interspiritual pilgrimage, recommended for those who want to learn about spiritual traditions and somatic practices with which they may not already be familiar. Pilgrims will be invited to explore pre-Christian as well as Christian traditions, including the richness of Christianity as it developed on Iona and elsewhere in the British Isles before the imposition of conformity of belief and practice by the Roman Catholic Church.

ABOUT THE PILGRIMAGE LEADERS: As a college instructor in World Religions and Epicopal minister, Rob brings a wealth of experiential knowledge of Christian practices as well as other religions. This will be the seventh international pilgrimage he will co-lead. Jen and Julie bring their love of Iona and other places in Scotland. Their training and professional experience in spiritual psychology, somatics, retreat leadership and experiential education will offer us a holistic perspective as we prepare to receive the gifts of these sacred places.

PILGRIMAGE COST

DOUBLE OCCUPANCY: $5,500 per pilgrim

SINGLE OCCUPANCY: $6,600 per pilgrim

Includes comfortable accommodations (9 nights, 3-star minimum), 2 meals per day, transportation within Scotland, and all group admission fees.
Not included: airfare, 1 meal per day (typically lunch), tips, and travel insurance (highly recommended)

PLEASE NOTE: pilgrims will have an opportunity to pay a supplement to guarantee them a room on Iona with a view of the sea. The balances due will be somewhat higher for those who choose to pay the Iona sea view supplement (optional).

DEPOSIT to reserve your spot: $1,000 per person — applied to your total cost, and fully refundable up to 90 days after payment is received. Balance due by December 1, 2026.

REFUND POLICY: Starting Dec. 2, all payments are non-refundable unless someone else takes your place and pays the pilgrimage fees. To protect your payments after Dec. 2, we strongly recommend trip cancellation insurance, which allows you to recoup trip payments under the terms of the policy.

PILGRIMS SPEAK! Center for Spiritual Wisdom offers an international pilgrimage each year. Here’s a sample of comments from pilgrims who were part of last year’s journey abroad:

•     “The pilgrimage fulfilled every one of my hopes and then some. I was surprised and delighted to be included fully in such a wonderful, spiritual and caring group of people.”
•     “Getting to work on my spiritual life while seeing beautiful & meaningful sights, being with really cool people and eating great food—what's not to like?”